The ACT Test: North Carolina
Important Dates
The Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for North Carolina's test event. Check it frequently to stay on track for testing.
Test Dates
The ACT: Paper Testing
- Test Date 1— standard time: February 27, 2024
- Test Date 1—accommodations and/or supports window: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024
- Test Date 2—standard time: March 12, 2024
- Test Date 2—accommodations and/or supports window: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
- Test Date 3—standard time test date: April 9, 2024
- Test Date 3—accommodations and/or supports window: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024
The ACT: Online Testing
- Test Date 1—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024
- Test Date 2—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
- Test Date 3—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024
Documents will be replaced as they become available for Spring 2024 testing
Learn about Test Formats and Policies
Resources:
- What's New (web content)
- The ACT Taken on Paper or Online (pdf)
- Testing Policies and Information (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Test Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address
Dates:
November 6 – December 8, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Test Date and Materials Receipt Selection section)
- Address Change Request Form (webform)
Training:
Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts
Websites:
Resources:
- Staff Requirements, Roles, and Responsibilities (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Managing Contact and User Account Information section)
Training:
Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccessnext, remember to deactivate the existing test coordinator's user account. Updates need to be completed in two places: the manage contacts screen and creating a new user account.
Verify Enrollment Counts
Dates:
November 6, 2023 –January 12, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Managing Test Materials, Accessing Reports, and Submit a Request to Enroll or Unenroll an Examinee sections)
- PearsonAccessnext Operational Reports Layout (pdf)
Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.
Training:
Online Testing: Complete Site Readiness
Dates:
December 4, 2023 – January 26, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- Technical Coordinator Checklist (pdf)
- ACT Technical Guide for Online Testing - North Carolina (web content)
- The ACT Online Testing Site Readiness Plan (pdf)
- Mock Administration Guide (web content)
ACT Online Technical Readiness Training Tutorials
Learn about Accessibility Supports
Websites:
Resources:
- Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT - North Carolina (pdf)
- Accessibility Supports Guide for the ACT (web content)
- ACT Training Information Graphic-English Learner (EL) Supports (pdf)
- Setting Up for Success - Online Reporting and TAA (pdf)
- FAQ Sunsetting English Braille American Edition (pdf)
- Video American Sign Language (VASL) Accommodation (video)
Training:
Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports
Dates:
September 11, 2023 – January 5, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- Consent to Release Information (pdf)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) User Guide (pdf)
- Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) System Supports (web content)
Training:
Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline
Dates:
January 8 – February 23, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- Requesting Reconsideration (TAA User Guide) (see page 18 of the TAA User Guide) (pdf)
- Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline (pdf)
Tip: Reconsideration is used if you submitted a request for accommodations that was denied. Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline is for limited reasons as indicated on the form.
Tip: Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline. In a limited number of circumstances, test coordinators can submit requests for accommodations and/or English learner (EL) supports after the published request deadline.
Order Test Materials
Dates:
Testing Date 1— January 22 – February 16, 2024
Testing Date 2— February 27 – March 1,2024
Testing Date 3— March 12 – 29, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Managing Test Materials section)
Training:
Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, orders must be placed by calling the ACT Accommodations team (800.525.3731, press 2).
Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders & Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccessnext User Guide.
Complete Non-Test Activities
Dates:
Students have an additional two days after they finish testing to complete their non-test information in MyACT.
Websites:
Resources:
- Taking the ACT (pdf)
- Taking the ACT - Spanish (pdf)
- Non-Test Activities (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form) (pdf)
- Non-Test Instructions for Student (Blank Form with Mail Merge) (docx)
- MyACT User Guide for Test Coordinators (pdf)
- MyACT Account Setup - State & District Testing - NC (video)
Tip: To provide visibility into the non-test information process, schools will have access to a daily Student Code Usage Status report after receiving their first shipment of materials. This report is posted in the Published Reports section in PearsonAccessnext. Refer to the Accessing Reports section of PearsonAccessnext User Guide for instructions. This report contains “Yes” or “No” to indicate students who have not used their Student Code or not completed college choices.
Provide Examinees Test Prep Information
Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials
Resources:
- Test Facilities (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Test Staff (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Test Materials (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Test Administration (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Order Form for Alternate Format Practice Tests (pdf)
Training:
Update Examinee Information
Dates:
Testing Date 1: January 15 – March 7, 2024
Testing Date 2: January 15 – March 21, 2024
Testing Date 3: January 18 – April 25, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- PearsonAccessnext User Guide (document – select the Manage Examinee Information section)
Online Testing: Create Test Sessions
Dates:
Testing Date 1: January 22 – March 8, 2024
Testing Date 2: March 6 – 22, 2024
Testing Date 3: March 25 – April 19, 2024
Online Testing: Complete Site Readiness
Dates:
December 4, 2023 – January 17, 2024
Websites:
Resources:
- ACT Technical Guide for Online Testing - North Carolina (web content)
- ACT Administration Online Manual (pdf)
- Preparing Students for the ACT Test Taken Online (pdf)
Training:
Administer the Test
Dates - Paper Testing
Test Date 1— standard time: February 27, 2024
Test Date 1—accommodations and/or supports window: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024
Test Date 2—standard time: March 12, 2024
Test Date 2—accommodations and/or supports window: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
Test Date 3—standard time test date: April 9, 2024
Test Date 3—accommodations and/or supports window: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024
Dates - Online Testing
Test Date 1—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024
Test Date 2—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
Test Date 3—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024
Resources:
Forms – Paper Testing
- Test Administration Form - ACT Standard Time Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- Test Administration Form - ACT Non-College Reportable Paper (pdf)
Forms – Online Testing
Administration Manuals - Paper Testing
- ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Non-College Reportable (pdf)
- ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)
Administration Manuals – Online Testing
Supplements
- ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list (pdf)
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners-Online Testing (pdf)
- ACT Test Translated Directions for English Learners (pdf)
- Prohibited Device Poster (pdf)
- Calculator Policy (pdf)
- Pre-Recorded Audio Guidelines (pdf)
- Video American Sign Language Usage Guidelines (pdf)
- North Carolina Administration Supplement - Paper (pdf)
Video – Paper Testing
Video – Online Testing
- Test Day Overview for Online Room Supervisors - NC (video)
- How to Enter Online Irregularities (training tutorial)
- Manage Online Test Session (training tutorial)
Tip: Test materials for The ACT are date-specific. Ensure you are using the correct materials for your test date and format to avoid score cancellation.
Tip: If you are testing an examinee authorized for English learner supports, have the ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list handy to verify at check in that the examinee’s dictionary can be used for testing.
Return Test Materials
Dates – Paper Testing
Testing Date 1— standard time testing materials receipt deadline: March 5, 2024
Testing Date 1— accommodations testing materials deadline: March 15, 2024
Testing Date 2— standard time testing materials receipt deadline: March 19, 2024
Testing Date 2—accommodations testing materials deadline: March 29,2024
Testing Date 3—standard time testing materials receipt deadline: April 16, 2024
Testing Date 3—accommodations testing materials deadline: April 26, 2023
Dates – Online Testing
Testing Date 1—standard time and accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: March 15, 2024
Testing Date 2— standard time and accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: March 29, 2024
Testing Date 3— standard time and accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 26, 2024
Resources:
- Collecting, Packing, and Returning Test Materials (manual section – select the first result listed after applying search filters) (web content)
- Secure Storage and Transport of Test Materials Form (pdf)
Training:
- How to Return Standard and Accommodations Test Materials (video)
- How to Return Online Test Materials (video)
Tip: Do not return unused answer documents from test date one. Keep unused answer documents for makeup testing.
Tip: Return completed answer documents following testing so they arrive at ACT by the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events and can be scored.
Tip: Return all ACT-authorized accommodations materials at the end of each testing window, rather than returning materials for individual examinees as they complete testing.
Tip: If you receive an additional order, write your high school's name and code on the return shipping labels.
Access and Understand Score Reports
Dates:
Score Report Schedule for the ACT Test (web content)
Websites:
Resources:
Share Reporting Information with Examinees
Websites:
- Understanding Your Scores (act.org)
Resources:
Webinars and Administration Manuals
Resources:
North Carolina Training Webinars:
- On Demand Accommodations Training Webinar (webinar)
- ACT Accommodations Training slides (pdf)
- ACT Test Administration Training – Online (webinar)
- ACT Test Administration Training slides – Online (pdf)
- ACT Online webinar Q&A Report (pdf)
- ACT Test Administration Training – Paper (webinar)
- ACT Test Administration Training slides – Paper (pdf)
- ACT Paper webinar Q&A Report (pdf)
Administration Manuals – Paper Testing
- ACT Administration Manual - Standard Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Accommodations Paper (pdf)
- ACT Administration Manual - Non-College Reportable (pdf)
- ACT Test Coordinator Information Manual (pdf)
Administration Manuals – Online Testing